Peeing when you sneeze, is it normal?

We’ve all been there - a sneeze catches us unawares in a public place and then we make a sheepish, yet urgent bee line for the nearest loo in order to assess the damage. With 1 in 3 women experiencing some form of bladder weakness in the UK, peeing when you sneeze is super common, but it is it normal?

The answer is no. Bladder weakness itself is not normal and should be treated like any other condition. Reaching for the safety net of pads time after time is all well and good, and does give us a sense of added protection, but it does nothing to sort the underlying cause of the problem, meaning the issue goes on and on, unresolved.

What causes leaks when sneezing?

Urinary leaks brought on by things like sneezing, coughing, laughing, jumping, running or any other physical exertion, is known as Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). The term ‘incontinence’ can sound a bit scary, but really, it’s just a way of describing the weakening of the pelvic floor muscle, connective tissues & urinary sphincter which are responsible for the healthy function & control of the bladder.

The weakening of these muscles is often caused by:

Pregnancy & Childbirth

Menopause

High Impact Exercise

Prostate Cancer Surgery

Pregnancy & Childbirth

The nerves & tissues can become severely weakened from the weight of the baby in the womb, and become damaged during delivery.

Intense abdominal exercises and vigorous training puts additional pressure on the pelvic floor, which can subsequently weaken the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissue that supports the bladder.

Prostate Cancer Surgery

During Radical Prostatectomy surgery in men, the prostate gland and some of the surrounding tissue is removed, causing bladder-neck weakness resulting in less resistance to bladder pressure and control over the pelvic floor

How to treat leaks when sneezing

We need to change the way with think about dealing with the various issues our bodies encounter throughout life – whether the issue is bladder weakness or not, we have a tendency to sweep things under the rug, or just put up with it. You deserve better than that. Let’s nip in the bud, and solve the issue before it takes a control over your life.

Bladder weakness can have a huge range of emotional side effects, such as a lack of confidence, difficulty with sexual intimacy & relationships, fear of leaving the house & travelling, and can even dictate the clothing we choose to wear out of fear of embarrassment.

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